Hiruko quickly suppressed his simmering anger.
He understood that Konoha was currently in a period of skyrocketing development. The impoverished of this generation might still feel profound gratitude for their current situation; even if they were subjected to exploitation, they would likely choose to endure in silence.
But he was in no hurry. He calculated that by the time the next generation grew up—children who had lived in relative abundance from birth and received a proper education—they would inevitably refuse to spend their lives as mere cogs in a machine, performing monotonous, soul-crushing labor for hours on end.
Only then would the Utopia he envisioned have a chance to manifest.
The common folk of the shinobi world, long shrouded in darkness and crushed by heavy burdens, were mentally exhausted. Now, a mere pittance of benefit thrown their way was enough to drive them into a frenzy of irrational joy.
But the children of the new era would be different. They would not willingly sacrifice twelve hours of every day to offer their lives to the altar of Konoha. At that turning point, Hiruko would truly step onto the center stage. Only with a populace that supported his ideals could the seeds of equality be sown in every heart, fully unlocking the potential of every individual.
When the day came for him to embark on the conquest of other worlds, he would spread the doctrine of Utopia far and wide. In that future, no one would suffer oppression; everyone would be free from the shackles of mortgages and car loans, free to chase their dreams in a world without the shadow of war.
While Hiruko was immersed in his grand fantasies, Minato Namikaze received word from his intelligence officers. Amegakure was currently under Hanzo's control, but the man had "spoiled." He had become excessively cautious, surrounding himself with a twenty-four-hour rotating guard and rarely leaving his reinforced chambers.
Minato's face clouded with a touch of helplessness as he mentioned this. Hanzo had once been a titan of the shinobi world, the "Demi-God" whose name struck terror into the Four Nations. How had he fallen so far? His actions were now timid and small-minded, as if time had withered his spirit into a decaying husk.
Hanzo is still alive... Hiruko mused silently.
He had been so focused on helping Minato recruit the Akatsuki and researching mind-control techniques that he had overlooked Hanzo as a key variable. His original plan was to simply seize control of the Akatsuki to take over the Rain Country's shadow government and stir the pot of the shinobi world. But with Hanzo still in the picture, managing the situation in the other nations became much thornier.
"Perhaps we can choose to cooperate with the Akatsuki. Eliminate Hanzo first, then take control of Amegakure," Hiruko suggested tentatively.
It was a delicate situation. Nagato's parents had been killed by Konoha shinobi, and Danzo had conspired with Hanzo to orchestrate Yahiko's death and the slaughter of the original Akatsuki members. Nagato's hatred for Konoha was likely equal to his hatred for Hanzo. Otherwise, in the original timeline, Nagato wouldn't have sacrificed his own life force to unleash that devastating Shinra Tensei on the Leaf, wanting them to feel the pain he had endured.
Jiraiya was perhaps the final wild card, as Konan harbored no ill will toward him. But Nagato had blackened after Yahiko's death; even if Jiraiya reappeared, he would be viewed as a mortal enemy if he stood in the way of Nagato's revenge.
Thinking of this gave Hiruko a headache. If they simply handed that old fox Danzo to the Akatsuki as a peace offering, it would be a crushing blow to Konoha's morale. That idea was a non-starter.
Minato smiled and asked, "Is there a chance Master Jiraiya could persuade them?"
Hiruko shook his head. "Impossible. Without the strength to match Nagato, or an ideology that aligns with theirs, they won't be swayed by mere words. I don't see a peaceful negotiation with the Akatsuki ending well."
If they could turn back the clock to the days of the original, naive Akatsuki, someone might have talked sense into them. But the current Nagato viewed himself as a God. Why would a God listen to the whispers of the Hidden Leaf?
This meant that if they wanted to move against the Akatsuki, they had to eliminate the Rain Country's high command and defeat Nagato's forces in a lightning-fast strike. It had to be a silent operation to avoid alerting the other Great Nations.
The more Hiruko pondered, the more it seemed like an impossible mission. Nagato, currently crippled and recently brought back by Obito, was still developing the other powers of the Rinnegan. This was likely his moment of greatest vulnerability. Furthermore, the Akatsuki hadn't yet recruited its "all-star" roster; aside from Nagato and Konan, they lacked top-tier combatants.
In a way, they had Hanzo to thank for crippling Nagato's legs and for Gedo Mazo draining Yahiko's vitality. Otherwise, it would be a toss-up as to who would be absorbing whom.
While dealing with the "Black Zetsu" problem and regional instability, Hiruko had begun manipulating public opinion in the other Great Nations. He subtly guided the populace to feel dissatisfied with their own leaders while making the Land of Fire seem like a paradise where the moon was rounder and the air was sweeter.
He transcribed propaganda articles from his previous life—ridiculous claims that made even Minato laugh. Rumors that Konoha's toilet water was sweet enough to drink, that Leaf youth were kicked out at 18 to live independently, and that Konoha's flies gathered honey. It was absurd, but in a world of limited information, it worked.
Amidst this, Hiruko was also occupied with establishing a Konoha Bank to control the financial system and pushing for electronic payments. Konoha was expanding rapidly, evolving into a hyper-city with advanced infrastructure and a booming tech sector.
One day, an uninvited guest arrived: Kitsuchi from Iwa.
Kitsuchi looked like an honest, middle-aged man, but he was now one of Iwa's key decision-makers—even if he was constantly overshadowed by the still-living Ohnoki. Hiruko had sent an envoy to Kitsuchi proposing a joint-venture logistics company. Iwa had suffered heavily against Konoha, and Kitsuchi initially suspected a trap. But after confirming with the Land of Earth's high command, he realized it was a golden opportunity to sell Iwa's surplus crops and specialties that usually rotted due to poor logistics.
Kitsuchi's daughter, Kurotsuchi, was only one year old. Kitsuchi knew his own looks were plain and didn't expect much for his daughter's future appearance. He suspected Hiruko only offered the deal because he had a "thing" for cute kids, like the little girl from the Sand.
When Kitsuchi arrived to negotiate, he realized the Cloud and Stone weren't bothering Konoha simply because they were too busy trying to fix their own broken economies.
"The Sand Village is cooperating with us quite well. They've already made a fortune!" Hiruko said persuasively.
Kitsuchi's face turned grim. "Kurotsuchi is only one year old! I will never hand her over to you!"
Tsunade, standing nearby, desperately muffled a laugh. Minato, holding a baby in his arms, nearly doubled over. Hiruko stood there with black lines over his face, speechless. I really don't like toddlers!
As night fell over Konoha, the negotiations concluded.
In a high-end Western restaurant—a replica of those from Hiruko's past life—candles flickered and jazz played softly. Hiruko arrived early, wearing a finely tailored black suit and a deep red tie. His usually cold features were softened by the careful grooming.
This was his first official date with Tsunade. They were so familiar with each other that they had never actually "dated."
The door opened, and Tsunade walked in. She wore a pale purple evening gown that hugged her curves, showcasing her legendary figure. Her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, shimmering in the light.
Hiruko's heart skipped a beat. "Tsunade, you look beautiful today."
Tsunade smiled radiantly, taking his hand. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Hiruko."
They ordered steaks, salads, and red wine. Between bites, they chatted about nothing and everything. After dinner, Hiruko suggested relaxing at a nearby hot spring.
Tsunade nodded. Despite her lingering worries about Grandma Mito, she wanted to chase her own happiness. They arrived at the bathhouse, the air thick with steam and the scent of sulfur. In the dressing room, Tsunade changed into a loose yukata. She looked in the mirror, satisfied; in this world, no one could match her.
They stepped into the spring, the warm water enveloping them. They leaned against the edge, gazing up at the starlit sky.
"Tsunade-sama," Hiruko broke the silence. "Actually, from the first time I saw you, I liked you."
"Thank you for giving me that candy."
Hiruko looked at the sky. Back then, he was too gloomy, his inner darkness overflowing. If not for Tsunade, he would have been far darker than he is now.
Amidst the swirling steam, Hiruko suddenly pulled Tsunade close, lifting her into his lap.
"Ah!"
"Wait, don't—!"
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: [email protected]/c/wildsparkstudios
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 100 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.